Silver-reenforced tableware and method of making the same



- 1,619,812 March 8 1927- -r 1 B. LASHAR ET AL SILVER REENFORCEDTABLEWARE AND METHOD 0F MAKING THESME Filed April 18,- 1925 `2sheets-sheen Thun-Lag @.Laahav Than-m5 HLa5har f 1619,872 March 8 1927'T. B'. LAsHAR ET AL,

SILVER REENFORGED TABLEWARE AND METHOD 0F MAKING THE SAME Filed April18, 1925 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TH DTI-Lag E LaS-har Thum as H.La5`harPatented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES- PATENT oFFicE.

THOMAS B. LASHAR, OF FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, AND THOMAS H. LASHAR, 0FCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 ASSOCIATED SILVER COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

SILVER-REENFORCED TABLEWARE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME.

IApplication led April 18, 1925. Serial No. 24,225.

This invention relates to improvements in tableware and the like.'

The primary object of this invent-ion is the provision of improvementsin mea-ns for ing a precious metal filling into a depression in a basemetal in order to efiiciently reenforce those parts of articles whichare exposed to major wear, and substantially for the purpose set forthin my co-pcnding application Serial Number 614,982, filed J anuary 26,1923.

A further object of this invention is the provision of improvements inthe formation of table-wear or the like, embodying novel means for extrareenforcing the article at points of major wear, with a precious metalof the same characteristics as the metal with which the article is tobeV plated, and embodying a novel step for shaping certain protuberanceswhich anchor the precious metal reenforcement to the article.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a novel processfor the forman tion of an' article of manufacture, such as a piece oftable-Ware, includingmeans for forming a novel shaped depression in thebase metal piece of the table-Ware while" it is still in its flat stockcondition` and subsequently anchoring *precious metal in the depressionin an efficient and economical manner so that after the article isbowled or formed in its die, and plated, the precious metal filling inthe depression Will be thinned out from its central portion to the outeredges thereof; the thickest portion of the precious metal reenforcementbeing then disposed at the place of major wear and gradually sloping atreduced thickness to points of minor wear.

A furtherl object of this invention is the provision of an article ofmanufacture, such as table-wear set forth in my copending applicationabove referred to, including a novel arrangement for formingprotuberances in a fiat piece of base metal within a depression,`filling the depression with precious metal to cover theprotuberances, subsequently bowling the article 'in a die to arcuatethe' portion of the article in which the depression is formed so thatthe protuberances are rearranged with their axes in a diverging relationto more firmly anchor the precious metal thereto, and subsequentlyelectro lat-ing the base metal and previous metal filling with aprecious metal embodying substantially the same characteristics aseconomically andetficiently fusing or melt-- that of the precious metalfilling.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed description.

. In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,and wherein similar l'eference characters designatev corresponding partsthroughout the 'several views,

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively plan and edge elevations ofv a piece offlat base metal struck in the form of a blank simulating the outline ofthe article.

f Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively plan and cross-sectional views showingthe base metal after a second step has been performed thereon to providea depression in a certain portion thereof with protuberances therein;the protuberances and depressions being formed in a novel relation.

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively plan and` base metal, after thedepression therein has been filled with a precious metal and fused ormelted to the base metal.

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively bottom plan and cross-sectional views ofthe article after` the same has been placed onI a forming or bowlingdie. A

Fig. 9 is a. cross-sectional view of the article after being plated. y v

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged cross-sectional views, fragmentarilyshowing improved features of the" article of manufacture at differentsteps in the process thereof; these views being taken substantially onthe line 10-10 and 11--11 respectively of Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawings.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose .of illustration is shown onlya preferred embodimentl of this invention the letter A may generallydesignate a flat piece of base metal, cut in blank, in thel generaloutline of the article to be manufactured, and substantially asisillustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the draw ings. In the specific instancethe article to` be manufactured is a spoon, and the blank A includes thehead portion 10'and handle portion or shank 11.

The next step in the process -of forming the article is that ofdie-punching the saine to provide a well defined depression 13 inwardlyof aside surface 14C thereof; the well defined depression 13 in thespecific instance providing a straight edge or shoulder 15 arrangedadjacent' the shank 11 at right angles to the axisI of the articleand"with a substantially U-shaped edge 16 extending in bowed relationtoward the free end ofthe head 10. The punch with which this depression13 is formed is so shaped that incident to the punching operation aplurality of peaked protuberancesor pro- ]ections 2O are provided inupstanding relation in the well defined recess 13, arranged in parallelrelation substantially at right -angles to the plane of the base met-alblank A. .The punching operation so forms the depression inwardly of thesurface 14, that the surfaces 25 surrounding the walls 15 and 16 of theWell defined depression 13 slope outwardly and upwardly from the welldefined depression 13 into the plane or contiguity of .the surface 14.rilhus the depth of the entire depression formed in the base metal A isgreatest in the well defined depression 13 wherein the protuberancesoccur, and the depression gradually deT creases in thickness along theslopino' surface 25 from the well defined depression 13 to the surface14, and as can readily be seen in `Eigures 4, 10 and 11 of the drawings.

After the formation of the depression and the protuberances. as abovedescribed, the next step is to lill the-depression 13 with preciousmetal, of the same characteristics as the metal with which the finishedarticle will be plated; this precious metal being provided to an amountsufcient to lill the Well defined depression 18 and overflow the ed es15 and 16 thereof, to cover the sloping wal 25 until acrown portionoverlies the peaks of the protuberances 20 to a predetermined. andsufficient depth. In this step the recious metal is melted or fused intoadering relation with the base metal, and as is illustrated inFig. 10the exposed surface of the precious metal reenforcement or filling liessubstantially continuous with the exposed surface '14 of the flat stockbase metal A..

At the nextstep in the process the base metal with the precious metal inthe relation described is struck up in a bowling die or otherdie to formthe article into substantially the shape desired. For articles ofLeraars dent to the hea blow of the polished snrface o f the bowing die,the precious ,metal will slide easily and the protuberances 20 willassume a divergino relation in contradistinction to the parallel axialrelation in J which they were disposed on the flat base metal A prior tothe bowling die forming step. The protube'rances 20 after the dieforming step, as is illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings will beradially arranged with respect to the concavo-convexity of the article,with their axes disposed in diverging relation toward the convex side ofthe precious metal filling 30, and arranged in vconverging relationtoward-the concave side of thearticle metal base portion. After this diestamping operation, it is to be noted that the precious metal 30 is ofgreater. thickness in the central portion of the depression,l and thatit gradually thins toward the edges thereof, at the shallow portion ofthe .depression which lies outwardly of the -well defined depression 13above mentioned,

and the exposed outline 33 of the precious metal reenforce` or filling30 will assume an irregular uneven outline substantially as isillustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, after the die-stamping operationhas been accomplished.

The article is now ready to be plated, and the entire exposed surfacesboth of the base metal and the precious metal filling 30 are nowelectroplated with precious metal having the same characteristics as theprecious metal filling 30, for an even depth all over the base andprecious metal lilling, as is illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings. i

An important. feature of the process by which' the article ismanufactured is the placing of the silver or precious metal in its fusedrelation on the base metal prior to bowling of the article. Ii' thesilver or precious metal -were fused or melted on after the spoon hadits bowl formed, the

'heat would anneal the article andA render it so soft that it would bendin use.

From the foregoing description of this invention it is apparent that anarticle has been provided which is properly reenforced with preciousmetal at a point where major Wear is wont to o ccur, substantially Vforthe purpose set forth in my co-pending application above referred to. Inthe article herein described, however, the bowling die step Whilesufficient topermit the'silver filling to flow readily under the. forceof the blow will not have anydistortin-g effect on the shape which theprotuberances will take incident to the arcuating of the portion of thearticle adjacent which the depression is formed, so that theprotuberances will projectin a .diverging relation into the preciousmetal to more firmly anchor it. The purpose of providing the preciousmetal relli) enforce 30 is so that after the plating of the article hasbeen Worn away, at the point of*- major wear where the silver orprecious metal reenforce 30 is provided, the precious metal 30 will thenloe exposed and due to the fact that the same is o f the samecharacteristics in quality and appearance as the plating 35,110 one willdetect the wear at this point of major wear. The major wear is of courseover the protuberances, and after the crown-portion of the preciousmetal reenforce 30 has Worn away the peaks of the protuberances will,be' exposed, but will not be detected due to their minute appearance.The place of minor wear is of course on -the other surfaces of the spoonother than a place Where the reenforce 30 is provided, and between theseareas of major and minor Wear, an intermediate Wear may occur, which isgreaterV than minor wear but less than major wear. Any Iliability ofwearing of the base'metal to exposed relation at this point ofintermediate Wear is obviated due to the thinning out of the preciousmetal reenforce 30 along the sloping surfaces 25, since these slopingsurfaces 25 are provided immediately at the point of intermediate wearupon the article.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the process and form of invention herein shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the' claims.

We claim: 1. That step in the process of manufacturing articles whichconsists in providing a blank of base metal, die punching a depressionin a surface of the base niet-al blank which slopes entirely about theperiphery of the depression on a gradual'taper into the surface of theblank in which the def' pression is formed, and fusing precious metal inthe depression to the base metal so that the exposed surfaces of thebase and precious metals are'substantially flush.

2. That step in the process of manufacturing articles which consists inproviding a blanll: of fiat base metal, die punching a depression in asurface of the flat base metal blank so that the depression slopes on agradual taper into the surface of the blank within which the depressionis formed, and .connecting precious metal to the base metal in the'depression so that the precious metal gradually thins on the slopingsurface of said depression toward the outer edges thereof.

3. That step in the process of manufacturing articles which consists inproviding a blank of base metal, die punching a depression in a surfaceof the base metal blank which slopes entirelv about rthe depression on agradual ta )er into the surface of the blank Within which the depressionisformed, fusing the precious metal in the depression to said base metalso that the' exposed sur faces of the base and precious metal are sub.stantially flush, and shaping the blank in a die to form the preciousmetal with the base metal in the shape desired With the precious metalgradually thinning in depth toward all the outer edges thereof.

4. Thatprocess of" forminr an article which consists in providingatblank, forming a depression in the blank with protuberances extendingupwardly therein, filling a precious metal in said depression to coversaid protuberances, and forming the base and precious metals in a die toalter the conformation thereof so that` the protuberances` assume adiverging relation in the precious metal to anchor the precious metal insaid depression to said base metal.

5. That process of forming an article which consists in providing apiece of hase metal, pressing a depression in the base metal to provideprotuberanccs extending upwardly Within the depression in substantiallypara!- lel axial relation, placing the precious metal in the depressionto cover said protuberances, and forming the base metal and preciousmetal filling the depression in a die so that the precious metalsmoothly conforms to said depression in contiguous relation with saidbase metal surface in which -the depression is formed and so that theprotuberances assume a diverging relation in the precious metal toanchor the same thereto.

6. That process of forming an article which consists in providing Lapiece of base metal, pressing a depression in the base metal to provideprotuberances extendingr upwardly within the denressionin substantiallyparallel axial relation, placing the precious metal in the depression tocover said pro: ,tuberances, forming the base metal and precious metalfilling the depression in; a die so that the precious metal smoothlyconforms to 4said depression in contiguous relation with said base metalsurface in which the depression is formed and so that the protuberancesassume a divergingrelation in the precious metal to anchor the sainethereto, and coating the precious metal and base metal' with a platingof precious metal of substantially the same characteristics as theprecious metal filling the depression.

7. That process of forming an article which consists in providing ablank piece of fiat base metal,`stamping a depression in a plane surfacethereof With protuberances extending upwardly in the depressi-on and sothat the depression slopes gradually into the surface in which .thedepression is formed, fillingI the depression and covering thenrotuberances with a precious metal, stamping the base metal andprecious metal filling the depression in a bowling die toconcavo-convexly form the base metal and precious metal filling so thatthe precious metal outer surtace lies' contiguous relation with theadjacent outer surface of the base metal and so that the protuberancesassume a diverging relation in said precious metal to anchor the sainein said depression.

8. That process of forming an article which consists `in providing ablank piece of fiat stock, stamping a depression in a plane surfacethereof with protuberances extending upwardly in the depression and Sothat the depression slopes gradually into the plane surface iii whichthe depression is formed, filling the depression and covering thepiotuberances with a precious metal, stamping the base metal andprecious metal filling the depression ina bowling die to concavoconvexlyforni the base metal and precious metal filling so that the preciousmetal outer surface lies in contiguous relation with the adjacent outersurface of the base metal and so that the protubeiances assume a(livciging relation in said precious metal to anchor the saine in saiddepression, and subsequently coating the base metal and precious metalfilling with a: precious metal having substantiallj,T the samecharacteristics as the precious metal filling.

9. An article ot1 manufacture including a piece of base metal providedwith a depression therein, protuberanccs extending; outwardly ot anddisposed within the depression in diverging ielationtoward their outerends, and a precious metal filling in said de- Leraars pression coveringsaid protiiberances and aiichored thereby in said depression.

l0. An article of manufacture comprising a piece of base metal having adepression therein at a point on the article Where major wear is wont tooccur, said depression gradually sloping to decrease in depth as itextends toward the surface in Which it is depressed, and a preciousmetal lilling in said depression having the outer surface thereotlsubstantially flush With the outer surface ot' the base metal,said'precious metal being of greatest depth at its central portion anddecreasing in depth along the sloping of said depression.

l1. As an article of manufacture a niece of table-ware providing a basemetal portion having a depression formed `therein with protuberancesextending upwardlv in the depression in cliverging relation,saiddepression at its edges gradually'sloping toward the outer sui-face otthe base metal in which the depression is "formed, a precious ineL lfilling in said depression anchored therein bv said protuberances and ofdecreased thickness at the sloping portion of said depression, and aprecious metal plating; over said base metal and precious metaltilliiiir having substantially the same. characteristics as the preciousmetal filling.

THOMAS s. Liisinis. 'riioiias ii. msi-iria.

